Lauren 'LaurenOLauren' Dunn

The statement 'I'm here to rob the place' has landed a popular television host in hot water with one of Jamaica's banks.

The TV host Lauren 'LaurenOLauren' Dunn had her US account closed by CIBC First Caribbean International Bank after she made the comment via Twitter last month.

Dunn, who has been fuming told THE WEEKEND STAR that on May 1, she went to the bank's Liguanea, St Andrew, branch to make a lodgement as she was leaving the island a few weeks after.

While there she checked in her location using App Foursquare then made the comment. According to Wikipedia, Foursquare is a web and mobile application that allows registered users to post/check-in their location at a venue and connect with friends.

Users can choose to have their check-ins posted to their accounts on Twitter and Facebook.

declined ATM card

Dunn explained that on May 15, she left the island but while on a flight to Houston, Texas, she tried using her ATM card to purchase items but it kept declining.

"I even tried using the card overseas and it declined," she said.

According to her, when she returned to the island she went to the bank, and after being given the run around on several occasions, she was told that her account was terminated because of comments made against the bank and that a letter was mailed to her.

"Mi say the people dem have mi there like a criminal, I took a cab there and mi wait, mi wait, mi wait, mi wait," she expressed.

no justification

Dunn believes that she was greatly inconvenienced and that there is no justification for her account being closed.

"Honestly, if they can check my Twitter to see that I made such a comment why wasn't an email sent to me. In this day and age they are gonna send me a letter, really now," she said.

Furthermore, she said, "Who robs a bank like that, why would I check in on Four-square, make a lodgement, then rob a bank ... "I'm a personality I say things to shock people. If you're going to use social media then you must know how to draw the line and differentiate between a customer who clearly has no bad intentions and a criminal."

When contacted yesterday, the bank's District Manager, Owen Francis, told THE WEEKEND STAR that Dunn's account was closed on Monday, June 11, and that her not being able to access the account overseas could not be connected.

He said that a letter is usually sent out giving the customer 30 days notice after which the account would be closed.

He explained, "In the normal course of business the bank has the right to close an account after serving the customer with the required notice if the bank thinks it has good grounds."

He continued, "The bank treats all threats to the bank in a serious way. Yes we are living in the 21st century but we have to be responsible in our utterances in the public."

notice

Nevertheless, Dunn says that she never received a notice, and that the account was closed on May 10 as stated by a letter she received when she went to the bank.

"I am obviously not a criminal, and if I were someone else, a person of reputable background or my parents made up a part of the movers and shakers in Jamaica my account would not have been closed," Dunn lamented.

In the meantime, when quizzed about the bank following customers on social networking sites Francis said that the bank only follows up on comments made about the bank.